Matt Eaton - Blank

He lifted her hands and placed them on his temples. She had been inside his head before.

“Read my thoughts,” he told her, repeating the words over and over again like a mantra. “Remember who you are. See yourself through me. Remember.”

He touched her face lovingly and kissed her with the force of a thousand hellos and goodbyes. When their lips parted he thought he caught a moment of recognition but it was gone too quickly for him to be sure. He hadn’t brought her back. But he was certain it was possible. Perrurle had told him as much. She stared at him silently as he retreated. He had at least managed to calm her down.

Through the side window of the garage they saw the Army truck still inside. Both the roller door and the side entrance were locked. Luckman tapped the door and examined the doorframe. Both metal. He picked up a large terracotta pot and smashed the window, cleared the jagged edges of the pane then swung himself through the gap and unlocked the side entrance.

“Paulson used the truck to escape from Altern,” Luckman explained. “Now the psychic defence shield is down people will start remembering what happened. I figure it might help calm them down if they see the Army is still here to look after them.”

“An Army of two,” said Pat.

Luckman smiled. “The cops are going to need all the help they can get.”

The town was engulfed in an inky darkness broken only by the light of the moon as Luckman and Bell arrived at the front of the police station. A crowd had gathered. Several people held torches, some held candles. A minor cheer arose as people noticed the Army truck pulling up but Luckman could already sense the confusion and anger in the air.

There didn’t appear to be much in the way of constructive communication between the townsfolk and the officers of the law. The cops were bunkering down. Uniformed police barred the station’s entrance. Pollock was nowhere in sight. The crowd quickly pressed in on the Army truck and Luckman had to urge people to step back so he could open the door and climb out of the cab. He spotted relief on frightened faces at the sight of his Australian Army uniform. These were business people, councillors and other locals old and smart enough to recognise an emergency when they saw one. These were the people who would need to keep cool heads in this crisis. They would be essential in spreading the word on what was about to happen. Using the running board as a perch, Luckman held up his arms to call for silence.

“My name is Captain Stone Luckman, I’m with the Australian Army. Firstly I can assure you everyone is safe. I have just come from the airport where a short time ago an emergency evacuation order was enacted.”

Evacuation? The implication of the word spread quickly through the crowd.

“The planes will be here by early tomorrow,” Luckman continued. “But I need help from every one of you good people to maintain calm and order. The safest place for everyone tonight is in their own homes. From nine o’clock tonight a strict curfew will be in force. The police and the Army will be out in force on the streets to ensure peace is maintained. I need you all to go to your friends and family now and spread the word. There will be a town meeting in Todd Mall tomorrow morning at eight AM.”

“How do we spread the word?” someone yelled back. “The phones don’t work.”

“Nothing works,” yelled someone else.

“You have cars, you have legs,” said Luckman. “You are the leaders of this community. Do your duty. Spread the word.”

The bite of the morning sun had ruddy faces glimmering with sweat and concern as the entire population of Alice Springs packed into the Todd Mall tighter than a Big Day Out mosh pit.

Curtis Pollock was waiting for Luckman behind a hastily erected stage on which the town Mayor was failing valiantly to address the barrage of questions that were already being thrown at him.

“He’s just confirmed the power won’t be coming back on,” Pollock explained, his voice raised to counter the hubbub, made even louder by the clattering petrol generator that was powering the PA system.

“You better get up there.”

Luckman nodded and climbed onto the stage. He gazed appreciatively at the thousands of angry and confused faces and thought there might yet be some hope for the future.

He gestured to the Mayor, indicating he wanted to take a shot at speaking to the mob. The poor man eagerly gave up the microphone and stepped into the background.

“Hello, my name is Captain Luckman. I’m from the Emergency Rescue unit of 6RAR Battalion, now based at Amberley near Brisbane. As most of you are now aware, there has been a major global catastrophe. The Prime Minister has placed the nation under martial law. Until further notice I am in command of all civil authorities in Alice Springs. The failure of this town’s infrastructure is just the beginning of what you are about to confront. Many of you will have noticed a squadron of C-17s landing this morning. In precisely three hours, the Australian Army will begin the permanent evacuation of Alice Springs. You will each be allowed one suitcase of belongings. No more. The Army will coordinate the evac operation. You are to wait in your homes or gather at one of five pre-determined evacuation points.”

Within 24 hours more than half the town’s population had flown away never to return. The operation ran entirely to plan. Being a town with a deep connection to the military, Alice Springs was one place where a strong show of force on the streets proved reassuring to the vast majority of the town’s residents. Thus there was no panic or disorder. Their oasis in the desert had dried up and it was simply time to leave. People did as they were told because no-one wanted to miss their allotted spot on a military transport.

Luckman had barely slept since the start of the evacuation.

But with the operation in hand and the arrival of a wary and reserved senior officer by the name of Major Mike Brogan to take over command, he gratefully stood down and figured on grabbing a few hours’ rest before sorting out departure arrangements for his friends.

Brogan had not mentioned a word about Pine Gap, although he must have been fully briefed on the situation. Luckman wasn’t about the raise the subject himself. He updated the Major on the evac and then left him to it. He was still driving the police four-wheel-drive – Pollock had told him he might as well keep it.

Pat Williams appeared at the back door to Paulson’s house as Luckman pulled up. “Look who the cat dragged in.”

Luckman smiled wearily. “How is everyone?”

“Better than you by the looks.”

He wasn’t about to argue. “How are those town camps going? You sorted them out yet?”

Pat rolled his eyes. “Half the blackfellas reckon they wanna stay put. Reckon they never had electricity or running water in the first place.”

“Have any of them ever actually lived off the land?”

Pat shrugged. “A few of the old fellas. We’ll get ’em out eventually when they realise the shops won’t be reopening.”

Maxine Warrington was in the lounge room spoon-feeding Mel from a bowl of porridge. It was a struggle, partly because her right arm was in plaster and partly because Mel ate like a newborn child. Most of the porridge seemed to be dribbling down her chin. She smiled when she saw Luckman.

“How’s she been?” he asked Warrington.

“Fine. Not a peep actually.”

“Has she tried to speak?”

Warrington shook her head. It had been a calculated risk allowing her into the house. But he had forced Shearer to place Warrington under his command and above all else she was a soldier – he trusted her to obey orders. She longed to obey orders. She didn’t have it in her to kill him. She could have done so already but had fired her gun and missed. While his game of chess with the General was far from over, for now at least it was safe to trust Warrington as an ally.